Tacks Latimer

Clifford Wesley "Tacks" Latimer (November 30, 1875 – April 24, 1936) was an American professional baseball catcher who played in Major League Baseball for the New York Giants, Louisville Colonels, Pittsburgh Pirates, Baltimore Orioles, and Brooklyn Superbas from 1898 to 1902.

Including the years he played only in the minor leagues or as a semi-professional, Latimer's career ranged from 1895 to 1908.

[1] He began playing baseball with the Cincinnati Gymnasium Club, where he attracted the attention of scouts.

[2] Latimer made his professional baseball debut with the Montgomery Grays of the Southern Association in 1895.

[17] Louisville traded Latimer, Fred Clarke, Honus Wagner, Deacon Phillippe, Patsy Flaherty, Chief Zimmer, Claude Ritchey, Tommy Leach, Rube Waddell, Walt Woods, Bert Cunningham, Jack Wadsworth, Tom Messitt, and Mike Kelley for Jack Chesbro, George Fox, Art Madison, and John O'Brien.

[22][23] After the 1900 season, John McGraw signed Latimer to the Baltimore Orioles of the upstart American League.

[26] Roger Bresnahan, who previously played as a pitcher, became a catcher for Baltimore, and the team released Latimer.

[27][28] He played for the Fort Wayne Railroaders of the Western Association, but was released in July due to his high salary.

[32] In August, he suffered a broken finger,[33][34][35] and was released by Atlanta because he refused to play for half pay while injured.

[51] In 1906, he played for the York Penn Parks,[52] Lancaster Red Roses,[53] and Harrisburg Senators of the Tri-State League.

[54] He was released by Lancaster in August,[55] and finished the season with the Cumberland Rooters of the Pennsylvania–Ohio–Maryland League.

[64] Latimer became a full-time scout for the Pirates, and the Society for American Baseball Research has credited him with discovering Bob Vail and George Suggs.

[1] He may have also discovered Red Faber,[1] and some contemporary sources credited him with finding Rube Waddell.

Among the character witnesses called by the defense was Bob Ewing, a former teammate of Latimer's who was serving as sheriff of Auglaize County.

[68] The jury convicted Latimer of second-degree murder on December 31, 1924, and was sentenced to life in prison at the Ohio State Penitentiary on January 5, 1925.

[1] On November 8, 1926, a gang of 13 prisoners attacked the guards as they attempted to break out of the Ohio State Penitentiary.